KHS America, manufacturer and distributor of Jupiter wind instruments, Mapex drums, Majestic concert percussion, Altus flutes and Walden guitars, will make a donation of 24 instruments valued at $23,500 to the Nashville Symphony. This generous support will allow the Symphony to complete the process of replacing all the instruments in its Instrument Petting Zoo, which was destroyed in the flooding of Schermerhorn Symphony Center in May. A collection of 50 instruments, the Petting Zoo is an integral part of the Symphony’s education programs, often giving children their first hands-on experience with playing a musical instrument.
"Our commitment to music education is strong, and we are looking forward to participating in Nashville's music education community," says Tabor Stamper, president of KHS America. "Together with the public school systems, with the private music education programs, with the strong university music performance and education programs, with the Nashville Symphony and the music industry, we stand ready to participate in keeping Nashville the Music City and strengthening a name for Nashville as the 'Music Education City' as well."
The company moved its U.S offices and distribution facility from Austin, Texas, to the Nashville area in September and will be celebrating with a grand opening at 5 p.m. on October 2, 2010, where the official announcement will be made. Located at 12020 Eastgate Boulevard in Mt. Juliet, KHS America's custom-designed 100,000-square-foot facility houses all of the company's corporate and shipping functions, new instrument testing, quality assurance and conference/recital hall.
Nashville Symphony Vice President of Education and Community Engagement Mitchell Korn will be on hand to speak at the grand-opening event. "The support we have received from the Nashville community has been inspiring," he says, "and we are so pleased to accept this gift from this new partner in the music industry. While this donation from KHS has completed the restoration of our Instrument Petting Zoo, the Symphony will continue to find new ways of advancing music education in the Metro Nashville Public School system and throughout the entire Middle Tennessee region."
Back